US: Mid-Air Bare Knuckle Brawl Erupts on Flight to Hawaii; Crew and Passengers Intervene

Two passengers aboard a flight on a US airline bound for Hawaii engaged in a mid-air fistfight that caused commotion among fellow travellers and crew members who intervened to diffuse the situation.

The incident occurred an hour after take-off on Southwest Airlines Flight 1288 from Oakland to Lihue Airport in Kauai, the New York Post reported. The spat escalated rapidly, with punches exchanged between the two men involved, the US outlet said. Passenger Jim Wieder recounted hearing yelling, screaming, and witnessing punches being thrown, resulting in one of the men bleeding.

A video footage, making rounds on Instagram, captured the intense moment as one passenger, dressed in a grey hoodie and baseball hat, approached another passenger in the aisle, leading to a fight. Despite attempts by Southwest Airlines crew members and fellow passengers to separate the individuals involved, the altercation persisted, with one man delivering multiple punches to the other’s face.

The chaotic scene unfolded at an altitude of 35,000 feet, causing concern among passengers. The cause of the flight remains unclear, leaving passengers and crew bewildered about what triggered the incident. However, despite the disturbance, the flight continued its course to Kauai without diversion.

Upon landing, local authorities detained both individuals who were involved in the altercation for further investigation. While charges have not been confirmed, the US transport authorities reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards violent or unruly behaviour on aircraft, warning of potential criminal prosecution and hefty fines for offenders.

“Reminder: Our department has zero tolerance for violent or unruly behavior aboard an aircraft. If you act out on an airplane, you can face criminal prosecution and fines up to $37,000,” the US Department of Transportation said in a post on social media post on X.

The in-flight altercation is the latest in a series of troubling incidents to occur aboard commercial flights. Just two weeks prior, a JetBlue passenger had to be restrained by fellow travellers after becoming abusive towards cabin crew during a flight from London Gatwick to New York’s JFK Airport.